Retailers have spoken: Xbox 360 failure rate is 30%

Sugar-coating and a well prepared public statement can’t hide anything from frustrated consumers. With so many complaints about faulty Xbox 360 consoles, it was only a matter of time before retailers couldn’t handle the headache anymore. Finally, word has come out saying 30% of 360 units were defective.

Retailers claim that only Microsoft‘s box suffers such a high failure rate. A Sydney retailer stated, “Out of the Nintendo Wii, the PS3 and the Xbox 360, the Microsoft product is the only one that we have had constant problems with. In fact when we sell the Xbox 360 we tell customers to contact Microsoft if they ‘Ever have a problem’.”

Website SmartHouse also testified how they receive hundreds of emails from angry gamers about their 360. Many were unfortunate enough to have their units bricked just outside warranty period. One unsatisfied customer cried out, “Just to let you know that after 13 months, just outside of warranty, I have the ‘rings of death’. Next step for me is to find out repair cost and contemplating going to PS3.”

Microsoft claim that these problems are addressed properly, but that doesn’t seem to be the case all the time. Someone told SmartHouse about troubles trying get a broken box fixed. To the person’s dismay,  what came back to his doorstep was a dusty console with a serial number different to what was sent. MS personnel were unable to justify, simply saying they did the right thing. Poor guy decided to refund his money, but it took a painful process, too.

On the good side, retailers find failure rates to be diminishing. At its current pace, it won’t be long till the box performs as well as PS3 and Wii. Improvements are also supposed to be underway. Patience, our fellow gamers, patience.

Via SmartHouse

Sugar-coating and a well prepared public statement can’t hide anything from frustrated consumers. With so many complaints about faulty Xbox 360 consoles, it was only a matter of time before retailers couldn’t handle the headache anymore. Finally, word has come out saying 30% of 360 units were defective.

Retailers claim that only Microsoft‘s box suffers such a high failure rate. A Sydney retailer stated, “Out of the Nintendo Wii, the PS3 and the Xbox 360, the Microsoft product is the only one that we have had constant problems with. In fact when we sell the Xbox 360 we tell customers to contact Microsoft if they ‘Ever have a problem’.”

Website SmartHouse also testified how they receive hundreds of emails from angry gamers about their 360. Many were unfortunate enough to have their units bricked just outside warranty period. One unsatisfied customer cried out, “Just to let you know that after 13 months, just outside of warranty, I have the ‘rings of death’. Next step for me is to find out repair cost and contemplating going to PS3.”

Microsoft claim that these problems are addressed properly, but that doesn’t seem to be the case all the time. Someone told SmartHouse about troubles trying get a broken box fixed. To the person’s dismay,  what came back to his doorstep was a dusty console with a serial number different to what was sent. MS personnel were unable to justify, simply saying they did the right thing. Poor guy decided to refund his money, but it took a painful process, too.

On the good side, retailers find failure rates to be diminishing. At its current pace, it won’t be long till the box performs as well as PS3 and Wii. Improvements are also supposed to be underway. Patience, our fellow gamers, patience.

Via SmartHouse